Why should I have my wedding videotaped?

There is nothing like a professionally made videotape to capture all the sights and sounds of your wedding day, an event which has become one of the major social events in a person’s life. What better opportunity to capture all of your family and friends and create a classic heirloom to be cherished for years to come? I have had many couples tell me that having a videotape made was the best thing they did on their wedding day.

Can’t a friend or family member videotape my wedding?

Certainly, but don’t expect professional results. We at Golden West Digital know all the ins and outs of capturing such an important event. We have professional 3CCD DVCAM cameras, DV and DVD mastering, titling, special effects generators, computer-based digital non-linear editing equipment, professional microphones, tripods, and plenty of backup equipment to create a true television production. We have no problem with other guests videotaping as long as they do not interfere with our efforts.

Won’t the cameramen be obtrusive and disruptive?

I have heard horror stories of bright lights during the ceremony and videographers stepping right up between the minister and the couple. The kindest compliment anyone ever gave us was "I never even saw you all day". Golden West Digital makes every effort to record your wedding unobtrusively and tastefully, using no lights at the ceremony, remaining stationary and silent throughout, and using a documentary style in all of our taping.

How should I choose a videographer?

It’s a fact of life that price plays a key role in determining your selection of professionals, and there is a photographer and videographer for every budget. Once you determine your spending limit, then you can begin to evaluate your professionals for quality, experience and compatibility. A professional DV camera is a must if you are to get true broadcast quality.

 Also, a minimum of 2 cameras for proper coverage should be used, as well as professional microphones and lighting equipment. Ask your prospective videographer what equipment he or she will use at your wedding, and specifically who will be operating that equipment. Ask to see a sample of that person’s work. Don’t merely watch promotional videos - ask to see actual weddings with actual sound, preferably taped in the same locations as your upcoming event.

Will my photographer and a videographer work together?

Wedding videography is relatively new, only coming into its own in the past ten years. Wedding photography, on the other hand, has been around for almost 1½ century! Generally, photographers and videographers get along just fine. In our own experience, we have even become close friends with our colleagues, and problems have been few and far between.

You should be aware that there are still some photographers that resent the rapid onslaught video has made on the market. One time a photographer returned the deposit to his client when it was discovered that a videographer had been hired. Another time we worked with a photographer who had a clause in his contract that stipulated that any other photographers or videographers had to defer to him! A wedding coordinator hired by the couple did not notice that particular clause, and when the photographer began ordering me around it became a crisis situation that required the intervention of the families. Remember: your photographer and videographer are working for YOU on YOUR wedding day, so be sure to let ALL of your vendors know exactly what level of cooperation YOU expect. Your wedding day is not the time for a clash of artistic egos.

Should I sign a contract?

A contract protects both you and the videographer, and should be comprehensive and clear. Don’t hire any professional with merely a verbal agreement.

Will you use wireless microphones?

Golden West Digital can do it both ways - wired and wireless. A wired microphone will yield better audio reproduction but it takes more time and effort to set up on location. Wireless microphones offer a quicker setup, and it is usually the groom who is chosen to wear the lavalier "clip-on".

We personally prefer the sound of a wired microphone. We use high quality shotgun and stereo microphones. Laying down the cable takes more time, but it is your assurance of quality sound, free from interference of any in-house wireless systems and stray radio transmissions. Don’t worry - we hide all the cable and tape it down so it does not get in the way.

Be sure to check with your church or synagogue to see if there are any restrictions on the use of wireless equipment.

What if my church has restrictions on video?

It is the client’s responsibility to find out if there are any restrictions on photography and videography wherever the event takes place and to notify the studio(s) well in advance. Many churches and synagogues have guidelines, such as no flash photography and no moving around during the ceremony, and understandably so. The place of worship is not a television studio.

We strive to place a camera in a position which affords us a clear view of your faces during the ceremony. This is not always possible because some churches restrict all videotaping to the balcony only. Be sure to find out what is allowed before you contract with a videographer or a photographer.

Most celebrants realize the importance of video to the bride and groom and their respective families. One couple told us that watching their videotape was like renewing their vows, and it’s hard to find fault with such a wonderful sentiment as that.

Golden West Digital asks for access to the site of the ceremony 1 hour prior to the scheduled starting time in order to set up our cameras and microphones and to make a proper test of all the equipment. It is our experience that churches sometimes fail to schedule enough time between events, so be sure to find out exactly how much time you will have access to the site before and after the ceremony. Photographers, videographers, florists and other vendors need sufficient time to do their best work.

When do you begin taping?

We typically begin a wedding day with a visit to the bride's home or other location where preparations are being made. Some of our most emotional and special shots have been made as the bride and her attendants are getting ready. We spend anywhere from 5 to 12 hours covering one wedding, but 7 hours is usually sufficient to get complete coverage of an average wedding.

Do you charge for mileage?

We almost never charge for mileage. If your event is outside a 100 mile radius from Orange County, California, then we may have to charge for mileage and other expenses.  We enjoy visiting different places and meeting new people.

Are your prices negotiable?

 Our prices are based upon our experience videotaping events, as well as the high-quality of the professional equipment that we use, and therefore are not negotiable. We encourage you to shop around and compare, but please LOOK at the actual work, don’t just shop by phone.

 Will you attend the rehearsal?

Golden West Digital usually will not attend the rehearsal because of other commitments, but we do attend a few if we feel that it is necessary because of unusual circumstances. When you come to us for your final pre-wedding interview (about 1 month prior to the event), we will go over all the details and determine optimum camera placement. If your site is not familiar to us, photographs and/or videotape will be helpful if we are not attending the rehearsal.

What should I look for in a professional videotape?

The picture and sound should be crystal clear. The titles should look professional and be Easily read. The production should be tightly and tastefully edited, making the tape more enjoyable to watch than real time raw footage. Special effects should be enhancements to the production and not appear "gimmicky". The most important element to shop for is the actual videographer, whose experience and talents are what you really want.

 How long will the finished tape be?

Golden West Digital likes to edit a complete production down to between 45 minutes and 1 hour. That would include an opening Childhood Montage, pre-ceremony coverage, ceremony, reception and Grand Finale. We may shoot up to 5 hours of raw, unedited tape, so it can take us up to 40 hours to put the edited version together. We also supply a copy of all the raw footage for your archival records.

Do I have a choice of music?

Golden West Digital maintains a royalty-free music library from which you may choose your musical selections. If you wish to provide your own music, we require that you provide the material at least one month before the event.

What is in-camera editing?

Something we DO NOT DO. In-camera editing is merely pausing and starting the videotape in the camera as events warrant and then handing the tape over at the end of the day. We shoot a lot of footage to ensure that we capture all the special moments and then use our post-production editing suite to complete the tape, adding music, titles and special effects.

Can I make copies of my wedding video?

It is illegal to copy a tape that has a copyright. Also, any copies that you make will suffer serious degradation. All of our copies are made either from our computer editing system or the DV edit master and are available at a nominal fee.

Should I provide a meal for the videographers?

We are on the job for sometimes up to 12 hours between the time we arrive at the bride’s home and the time we leave the reception. It is a welcome courtesy if you provide a meal for your photographers and videographers, and to provide it quickly so that we are ready to work again at a moment’s notice.

Don’t feed your vendors last because you will probably want shots of the newly married couple as they greet their guests at the tables. If you cannot provide a meal, we will need to take an off-site meal break sometime during the reception.

 What about those obtrusive interviews?

We do not go around from table to table putting people on the spot to "say something for the bride and groom". Rather, we set up a microphone somewhere in the back of the reception area or in a lobby and invite people to come up and say a few words voluntarily. Usually we get the DJ or band leader to make an announcement so that everyone gets the opportunity. Be sure to let us know if you want interviews or not.

When will I get my finished videotape?

Normal production time is 1-2 months after the event. We encourage everyone to gather all photos for the Childhood Montage as well as all musical selections and have them to us 1 month prior to the wedding, otherwise we find that if you wait until after the event to get these materials to us it results in unnecessary delays.

Can you send me a sample tape?

It is our policy to not send out samples of our work. We prefer meeting our prospective clients in person and to show several samples of our tapes. This allows us to get to know you and for you to get to know us. This is a very personal service that we provide and we feel that we cannot deliver our best work if we do not meet the principal people involved in the event. The great majority of our work is done by referral.

Anything else you can think of?

Whatever studio you choose to videotape your special day, take the time to shop and look at the actual work, and hire someone you feel comfortable with.
 

What about DVD?
 

Assuming you know about the performances, quality and higher price of a DVD we will only talk about
the difference in producing a wedding DVD. Most of the editors will convert the final wedding tape in a DVD file and burn it on the actual DVD and barely add a few chapters points. The most advance way is to have dynamic menus with captioned chapters links.
 

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